In 2018, I had the opportunity to take part in the APED Retail Summit, a landmark event for anyone seeking to understand the evolution of the retail sector and its impact on the economy and society. This meeting stands out for its ability to bring together leaders and experts who challenge conventional thinking and present innovative perspectives on key issues such as artificial intelligence in retail, the revolution in the consumer experience, the adaptation of supply chains to global volatility and the impact of new work dynamics on the sector. At a time when commerce is facing unprecedented challenges, from the redefinition of physical stores to the growing demand for transparency and business ethics, the 2025 edition promises to be a privileged stage for exchanging ideas and building strategies that will shape the future. I look forward to exploring emerging trends and discovering how the sector will reinvent itself in the years to come.

On May 8, 2018, at the invitation of the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies, I took part in the APED Retail Summit, whose motto was “Sharing the Future”. It took place between May 8 and 9, on Europe Day, and had a relevant strategic and global dimension, in a sector that is sometimes inward-looking, precisely when it is from the outside world that more and more challenges arrive, unknowns emerge and problems and opportunities present themselves.

My panel discussed the new world (dis)order (this in 2018…), with excellent speakers. Artificial intelligence was already in the spotlight, there was talk of human capital (talents), the relationship between good business and good business (job creator, environmentally friendly, sustainable), the future of commerce, payments and e-commerce. It has been a privilege for me and I am therefore looking forward to this year’s edition with enthusiasm, as the challenges, unknowns, problems and opportunities continue, perhaps even more so than eight years ago. Congratulations to APED.

I had the pleasure of participating in APED Retail Summit in 2018, a true platform for debate and sharing on the challenges and opportunities facing the retail sector and the economy as a whole. Bringing together renowned speakers from various areas of expertise, APED Retail Summit represents a moment of reflection on the national and international economic future, geopolitics, and digital and ecological transitions. Therefore, it is with great anticipation that I look forward to the 2025 edition.